PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Te Rauparaha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dolores Doremus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Te Rauparaha has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rauparaha
vs
Doremus

168 cm
33
143 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

165 cm
25
144 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Irish Collar & Elbow Nutrition and Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Te Rauparaha!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dolores Doremus!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Doremus shoots in but no luck this time.
It looked like Rauparaha wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Doremus shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rauparaha's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Doremus landing some decent shots from guard.
Rauparaha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Doremus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rauparaha swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rauparaha is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Doremus is controlling him.
Doremus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Doremus works over Rauparaha with some ground and pound from guard.
Rauparaha wants to stand but Doremus is controlling the position.

Rauparaha pushes Doremus off and scrambles back to his feet.
We've been told by Rauparaha's head coaches at Body Pain_14elite_650$+VM that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Doremus with a lazy takedown attempt

and Rauparaha moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauparaha misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Rauparaha fails to land.
Rauparaha misses with the head strike.
Doremus blocks an uppercut.
Rauparaha is pressed up against the cage. Doremus has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rauparaha down to the mat. Rauparaha avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Te Rauparaha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dolores Doremus.
Doremus throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Rauparaha holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rauparaha misses with a punch on the inside.
Rauparaha gets through Doremus's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rauparaha.
Rauparaha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rauparaha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rauparaha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rauparaha working aggressively here.
Rauparaha has a couple of punches blocked by Doremus.
Rauparaha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rauparaha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Doremus is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rauparaha misses with some punches.
Doremus wants a takedown.
Rauparaha misses with the head strike.
Rauparaha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Doremus blocking some punches.
Rauparaha throws a head punch that misses.
Rauparaha misses with the head strike.
Rauparaha throws a punch but it's blocked by Doremus.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rauparaha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rauparaha lands an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauparaha has a couple of punches blocked by Doremus.
Rauparaha working aggressively here.
Rauparaha throws a head punch that misses.
Rauparaha misses with the head strike.
Doremus blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rauparaha throws a punch but it's blocked by Doremus.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rauparaha.
A nice left hand lands by Rauparaha.
Doremus blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rauparaha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rauparaha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rauparaha lands a left hand.
Rauparaha misses with the head strike.
Rauparaha throws a punch but it's blocked by Doremus.
Rauparaha tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rauparaha swings wildly with an uppercut but Doremus uses good head movement to avoid it.
Doremus is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rauparaha pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rauparaha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rauparaha working aggressively here.
Doremus blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rauparaha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rauparaha swings wildly with an uppercut but Doremus uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rauparaha scores with a nice hook to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Doremus blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rauparaha lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rauparaha fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Doremus gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Rauparaha regains guard.
Doremus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Te Rauparaha dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Doremus getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Doremus will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Rauparaha swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
No luck for Doremus with that takedown attempt.
Doremus fails to land the takedown.
An attempted straight right counter from Rauparaha misses the target.
Te Rauparaha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dolores Doremus.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Doremus fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rauparaha slaps away a takedown attempt from Doremus, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Doremus shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rauparaha wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Dolores Doremus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Doremus shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rauparaha counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rauparaha keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Doremus.
Rauparaha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Doremus can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doremus fails with a takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Rauparaha misses the target.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Doremus shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rauparaha but Rauparaha pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Doremus shoots in looking for a takedown. Rauparaha tries to sprawl out of it but Doremus keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rauparaha manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rauparaha leaves Doremus with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Rauparaha on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Doremus fails with a takedown attempt.
Rauparaha swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Doremus changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rauparaha looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rauparaha throws Doremus to one side and escapes!
Doremus looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
As Doremus tries to get set, Rauparaha tries to push him back and clinch up but Doremus manages to avoid the attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rauparaha stuffs the takedown.
Rauparaha seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Te Rauparaha dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Doremus looking to score a takedown here. Rauparaha is defending well but Doremus drives through and ends up in Rauparaha's guard.
Doremus working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rauparaha's head.
Doremus connects with a couple of short punches.
Doremus throwing strikes but missing.
Doremus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Doremus has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rauparaha wants to stand up but Doremus is controlling him.
Doremus throws a big elbow that misses.
Rauparaha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Doremus.
Rauparaha knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Doremus on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rauparaha kicks Doremus off and gets to his feet.
Doremus fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rauparaha avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Doremus scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Doremus not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Doremus connects with a nice short shot to Rauparaha's temple.
Doremus thows a huge punch but Rauparaha dodges it nicely.
Dolores Doremus has got the better of the ground game so far.
Doremus drops an elbow to the side of Rauparaha's head.
Rauparaha looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rauparaha has one foot on Doremus's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Doremus shoots in for a takedown but Rauparaha shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Doremus has taken the fight to the clinch.
Rauparaha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rauparaha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rauparaha pushes Doremus back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rauparaha working aggressively here.
Rauparaha has a couple of punches blocked by Doremus.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rauparaha.
Doremus blocks an uppercut.
Dolores Doremus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Doremus blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Doremus gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Rauparaha wants to get back to his feet but Doremus is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Doremus with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rauparaha is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Doremus in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Doremus scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Doremus throws a strike but Rauparaha rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Doremus has a closed guard, preventing Rauparaha from standing up.

Doremus working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rauparaha doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rauparaha manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Rauparaha got a little sloppy there for a moment and Doremus has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rauparaha has managed to get both his arms back between Doremus's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rauparaha stands up from Doremus's guard - Rauparaha perhaps looking for a knockout.
Rauparaha walks into a straight right hand from Doremus.
Doremus dives in for a single leg takedown but Rauparaha sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Te Rauparaha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dolores Doremus.
Doremus rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Rauparaha counter with a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Te Rauparaha.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rauparaha, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Te Rauparaha!
Te Rauparaha is the new bantamweight champion!
Te Rauparaha was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.